Little things
It’s the little things that can really help on a day to day basis. Little indulgences like a spritz of perfume to brighten my nose. Or some nice rings on my hand to catch the light. Or putting my belt on in the opposite direction. There’s nothing powerful or life-changing in these little actions, but they mean so much to me personally. Just a little extra warmth, a little extra self-love, a little boost. It can also be so simply as accepting a compliment from someone instead of dismissing it. Or saying hello or even just waving to a stranger you cross paths with during your daily routine. Interact with your environment, get out of your head.
I think this applies to everyone. We all need these tiny indulgences for ourselves. We often deny ourselves the small things, for whatever reasons. But in this fast-paced world, especially in these current dangerous times, a moment of joy here and there can be a small, but strong light against the darkness.
A joyful moment
It was such a simple thing to say in such a short amount of time. But it made my whole day.
I was at the checkout at a Trader Joe’s, and the person ringing up my purchases said she loved the color of my purse. She said she loved how it looked with my jacket too. We chatted a bit while I bagged my items. She asked whether it rolled off my shoulder and we laughed about that. I told her I had a longer strap but when I carried my purse crossbody, it always gave me a pain in my neck, and she agreed. And then we said goodbye and wished each other a great day.
She didn’t need to say anything, but she did. And I felt more affirmed in public than I have in ages. It was just a simple interaction between two people. It’s what makes us human: interacting with each other. It was a bright, sunny, heartwarming moment for me.
Finished reading: Scream / Queen by C. D. Eskilson 📚
A good collection. Really liked “The Ocean Within Me” and “Portrait as Werewolf”. Also enjoyed “Update on HIM from Powerpuff Girls” and “Ghost Story with My Uncle”. “Since Moving from the Beach” and “Draft Message to My Sibling after Top Surgery” made me think back to friends and relationships.
Finished reading: Galaxy by Jadzia Axelrod 📚
Five stars. The dedication at the beginning said it all for me: “For the girl who needed this book ages ago, and couldn’t find it”. 🩷
Beautiful art too.
Back to Things 3
Now that I have some projects to manage, e.g. my writing and getting my new poetry collection published, I found that Apple’s Reminders app just isn’t enough for me. I was a die-hard fan of Reminders, and I’ll keep it for managing location-based reminders being able to add pictures to items, and the general way that it’s linked up with every other stock app.
But I needed something to manage multiple projects in a nice, clean way. I like the “Area” organizational tool for grouping my home/misc stuff away from my writing and mutiple projects for each unique work I’m doing. Within that, each task is related to writing & publishing, and even some of those tasks have checklists that help further organize things that need to get done.
So, I guess I’ll be in a Hybrid mode for now. I still like being able to add items to Reminders via Siri and Things pulling those added items into its INBOX.
Watched: The Andromeda Strain 🍿
Still a fantastic movie. One of my most watched.
Creating
Quick thought of the day that popped into my head while taking a walk this morning.
Is creating a solitary act or a group project? I was thinking about my poetry collection and getting it published. A traditional route for fiction writing is the writer creates, then finds an agent and works with them, and if it sells to a publishing house, they work with an editor there, etc. So the final novel is more of a group production rather than a solitary creation.
But, it made me think about photographers and painters. They don’t normally work with editors to constantly shape and mold their work. What you see is what you get (pun intended).
I’m not opposed to this process but just think it doesn’t have to be the only way. I also have seen the product and love books that have gone through this process. But, for me, I think I want to publish what I created, and let it stand on its own merits and failings.
Finished reading: Taboo, Issue One; edited by Luke Sutherland and Andrea Morgan. 📚
I enjoyed this collection of poetry, short story, essay and images from a diverse collection of trans writers.
The introduction by Andrea Morgan and Luke Sutherland was excellent and powerful. Anemone & C.J. Harsh’s pieces (“Women Taste Better” and “Devour”, respectively) made me write ‘Holy Fuck’ in the margins. Both pieces were dark, delirious and delicious. C.S. Laing’s “False Tooth” wowed me with its dark goodness too.
Golden Boy’s “Reflections on Addiction and Community” and Alana Storm’s “Casa Susanna & the Legacy of Mid-Century Transvestism” were strong, thoughtful essays.
The last piece was a perfect way to end this collection. I loved Winona Meridian Marks’ “Sackcloth Opals Ashes Pearls”. It reminded me of a prose version of some of my poetry. 🩷
Watched: Emergency! S3E6, Snakebite 🍿
Rewatched this at the gym this afternoon. Just a great episode. Some good storytelling and action scenes. Must have cost a mint for the helicopter scenes but added to the depth of the show.
Season 3 is where it came into its own.
Mozart’s Requiem
Listened to Mozart’s Requiem tonight. The Nicholas Harnancourt version. It’s one of my favorite pieces. It has always settled and calmed me.
Though in our current situation, it’s an apropos choice. This is a requiem for America. The end of democracy. The end of freedom. The end of free speech. The end of the rule of law. The end of truth.
Watched: Star Trek: The Next Generation S5E2, Darmok 🍿
Possibly one of the best pieces of SF ever written and filmed. I love this episode so much.
Finished reading: The New Economy by Gabrielle Calvocoressi 📚
Poems I really liked in this collection were “My Perimenopausal Body Cistern Bow Disappointing”, “Write the Best Thing That Happened Today”, and “Good Friday”
Finished reading: Best Woman by Rose Dommu 📚
Bluebirds 🩷
I was trying to snap a photo of the boy who landed on our deck railing. I wasn’t concentrating, just trying to get the shot. After taking it, I looked at photo and was blown away that I’d also caught a snap of the girl too. I’d seen them both a few minutes before but only saw the boy when I grabbed my camera. Congratulations on her perfect, in focus photobomb!
On a day like today, it’s nice to have something positive to appreciate.
Watched: Carrie 🍿 pretty good though parts felt a little rushed in that some characters changed too quickly to be believed.
Warning, do NOT watch the trailer if you’ve never seen this flick. Gives away way too much.